Following the death of three-and-a-half-year-old K. Dinesh, who fell into a stormwater drain and died in Taramani, the Chennai Corporation has started the process of identifying open stormwater drains and incomplete works on various stretches on Monday.

Corporation zonal officials issued instructions to identify damaged structures that are part of the stormwater drainage network and replace them immediately. Workers have also been instructed to place barricades around pits dug for stormwater drain works.

The list of such damaged and open structures will be completed this week, an official said.

In 2011, the civic body took steps to barricade 253 pits dug up for stormwater drains following the death of 24-year-old M. Sarala, who drowned in a drain in T. Nagar. The civic body also printed over 426 flex boards in 2011, warning residents living near such sites.

The civic body is also racing against time to finish incomplete stormwater drain works before the northeast monsoon.

Officials also pointed to the rising number of illegal sewer connections in many of the stormwater drains, and shops without trade licences that released grey water into the drains.

“We may be able to identify more than 10,000 shops operating without a trade licence in the city. All Corporation workers have been asked to regularly inspect localities where these shops operate,” said an official.

Drain works to resume

After extending the deadline for the JNNURM-funded stormwater drain work in the city several times recently, the Corporation decided to terminate the contract on many stretches.

The civic body will resume the work shortly as revised project reports have been prepared for stormwater drains in watersheds including the Cooum, Adyar, Central Buckingham Canal, Chellamal College Canal, MGR Canal and Jafferkhanpet Canal.